So after one more shop I found my Jazzmaster. I ended up getting a different Blacktop Jazzmaster I found today. Yesterday's one I tried was the same color option but was shrill and the rosewood was uneven and the frets were a little sharp on the edges. I was totally dissapointed. Todays was a million times better.
I contacted Guitar Center this morning to see if they had any Jazzmasters in stock and they said they had just got a Blacktop one in today. I told them I would come by after work and check it out. I arrived there and unboxed it. (It was still in the shipping box wrapped in a foam bag.) The salesman tuned it up for me and hooked me up to a Fender tube amp. The neck pickup was so much warmer sounding than the one I tried yesterday. It is hotter than the US ones I have heard, but not shrill. (I will do an audio sample later.) The bridge humbucker is actually pretty cool sounding. I HATED the one in the Blacktop I tried yesterday. The finish was nice looking. It looks like the body is made of three pieces, but they matched the wood pretty well. The frets are actually smoother on this neck then my MIJ ones, so that was a big (good) surprise. What is even better is they sold it to me for $449 which was $50 less than they had posted online. I also got a hard case for it. I am very pleased with it. I had the idea of modding it, but I kind of like it at the moment. Tuners seem fine to me. It came with light gauge strings.
Only things I notice that could use work:
The volume turns the tone to mud if you turn it down. The Tone knob is fine though. (Not a big deal to me because I usually keep volume at full.)
The bridge adjustment screws need to be tightened down. (Not a big deal. I hear people use thread lock on them to help with this or I could get a different bridge later.)
I might change the pickguard to a red pearl one maybe, but I kind of like the black on sunburst.
All in all my first Mexican made Fender seems to be great!
DSC09341 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
DSC09321 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
DSC09322 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
DSC09331 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
DSC09330 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
DSC09329 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
DSC09335 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
